Wayward Brewing Co.

Peter Philip has come a long way from his days as a casual home brewer, and he has a craft brewery and a massive beer hall to prove it. Wayward Brewing Co has been a labour of love for the Canadian beer enthusiast, who had to win a two-year, David and Goliath legal dispute with multinational brewer SABMiller just to keep their name. Then there was the four year search for the perfect location for the brewery.

But his perseverance has paid off and Camperdown is now home to the Wayward Brewery. Since nothing tastes better than a fresh ale drunk right at the source, they’ve added a 12 tap, 150 person tasting bar that is more like a Bavarian beer hall than the dinky little laneway operation you might have been imagining. And the locals are already staking their claim on the latest addition to the Inner West craft beer club.

It’ll be all too easy to wind down the clock over a six-pour tasting flight, where you can choose your own adventure or let your barkeep determine your flavour future. If you prefer to commit to a full pour but don’t know is a Raspberry Berliner Weisse or an oatmeal stout is really you cup of tea, a 120ml tasting is only three bucks.

Hunger pangs won’t get a toehold when there’s a barbecue stall doing cheeseburgers, the odd food truck putting in an appearance and local pizza deliveries after 5pm, and a bowl of popcorn won’t cost you a dime.

Sydney might be rich in breweries, but proper beer halls that are dog-friendly, laid back spots to sink some creative brews are lighter on the ground. Camperdown is one very lucky suburb.